Camp near Mouth East River, Giles County. — Rained violently last night; not a bad
morning, however. Rumors of defeat of General Milroy up northeast by Stonewall
Jackson. Don't believe it. If true, it is not very important, if the taking of
Norfolk holds out. We ought to catch the whole Rebel army near Richmond. With
gunboats at West Point up York River, up James River, and so on, we must have
that whole region soon. We now have a base of operations close up to the
enemy's right. — Rain in violent storms during the day two or three times.
No bread; men want
crackers. Transportation insufficient. But for the large quantities of bacon we
get in this neighborhood, we should suffer. General Cox with Second Brigade is
at Napoleon French's, six or seven miles from here. Will be here tomorrow.
General McClellan within twenty miles of Richmond! The crisis is now at hand.
If no serious disaster occurs in the next ten days, the Rebel cobhouse tumbles
speedily and forever!
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 270
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